# NTSB LAX95LA134: Bellanca 7ECA, N53866, Long Beach, CA, February 5, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 5, 1995, 15:07 local (23:07 UTC) - Place: Long Beach, CA - Coordinates: 33.78947, -118.120323 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7895&lon=-118.1203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 21, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29054 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29054/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA134 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,tire - failure (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose down, landing ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NO FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE LAST 90 DAYS. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RIGHT WHEEL FIRST, THEN THE LEFT WHEEL. SOON AFTERWARDS, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT, THEN TO THE LEFT. IT CONTINUED LEFT UNTIL IT TIPPED OVER ONTO ITS NOSE. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 10 TO 15 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT NOSED DOWN. ALSO, HE REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT TIRE WAS FOUND POSITIONED CROSSWISE ON THE RIM AND THAT THE RIM HAD CUT INTO THE ASPHALT SEVERAL TIMES. ## Factual narrative On February 5, 1995, at 1507 hours Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N53866, nosed over after landing on runway 25L at the Long Beach Airport in Long Beach, California. The aircraft was operated by the Long Beach Flying Club and rented by the pilot for the flight. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and included winds from 210 degrees at 7 knots. The flight originated at the Long Beach airport on the day of the accident about 1410 as a local personal flight. In his written report and oral statement to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel, the pilot reported that he had no recent flight experience within the last 90 days. According to the pilot, he touched down on the right wheel first, then the left wheel. Soon afterwards, the aircraft veered to the right, then to the left, and continued left until it nosed over. The pilot estimated the speed at the time was about 10 to 15 miles per hour. He reported that the right tire was found positioned crossway on the rim and that the rim had cut into the asphalt several times. The skid marks were estimated to be 50 feet from the centerline of the runway to the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53866](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53866-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N 1132-76 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ECA - Registry model: [Bellanca 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (registry code 1220460) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1132-76 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Long Beach Flying Club - Registered owner: Bea Enterprises, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special) - Airport: LGB, Long Beach, runway 25L, 5,420 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 4,500 total, 13 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LGB ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950205046259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950205046259A), Feb 5, 1995: Bbavia 7ECA, Long Beach, CA, Substantial damage. No flights last 90 days. Lost control landing. Nosed over. Found tire cross wise on rim. Asphalt cut by rim. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.